French Polynesia Catamaran Journey Waylaid by Weather; Sailor and Dog Survives on Rainwater, Raw Fish, Skill

A sailor and his dog were traveling by French Polynesian catamaran when they were delayed by bad weather, which damaged their boat and left them with no choice but to rely on rainwater, raw fish, and their wits to survive.

Weather Waylaid French Polynesia Catamaran Journey

Tim Shaddock, who is 52 years old from Sydney, and his dog Bella set out in April on a catamaran trip to French Polynesia from La Paz, Mexico, but their vessel was damaged in a storm a few weeks later.

On Wednesday, the little catamaran was found bobbing in the huge ocean by a helicopter watching out for a tuna trawler.

The bearded Shaddock, who is a cancer survivor, looks gaunt and exhausted after they were saved.

Given everything they had gone through, Shaddock and Bella seemed to be in amazingly good health when they were brought onboard the trawler.

Rainwater, Raw Fish, Skill, and Lauck

The two were stranded in the Pacific for two months and managed to survive by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish, according to Times Now News.

Shaddock claims that because he has been at sea alone for a considerable amount of time, he only needs to rest and eat well.

He claims to be in extremely good health.

Expert in ocean survival Mike Tipton credited Shaddock's endurance to a mix of good fortune and cunning.

The last thing one needs when in danger of dehydration, according to Tipton, is to be sweating, therefore it's crucial to know, for instance, like Tim did, that one needs to protect oneself during the heat of the day.

According to Tipton, Shaddock was able to get a fresh supply of water because of the area's environment.

Voyages in Warm Environments

In addition, Tipton noted that these lengthy expeditions frequently take place in the Pacific or warm climates since people can't survive long enough in cold climates.

The specialist referred to Shaddock's rescue as a "needle in a haystack" situation.

People need to understand how tiny the boat is and how big the Pacific is, according to Tipton. He also said that the likelihood of someone being located is very low.

According to Tipton, having Bella the dog rather than an inanimate object may have made a difference because it promoted good mental health.

Tipton added that the key to extended survival journeys is having a strategy and rationing food and water.

​According to a friend of the sailor, Shaddock used to work in the IT sector before retiring and searching for a new challenge. He also had some money, was bored, and tried new things.

Surviving Cancer

According to the publication, Shaddock overcame colon cancer almost 20 years ago after going through periods of intermittent fasting and consuming only raw food.

His life was in a critical moment and he was drinking a lot of smoothies, juicing, and fasting. At one point, Shaddock subsisted for more than three months only on green vegetable juice.

After his poor fare at sea, Shaddock will soon need to gradually transition back to his normal diet.

It must be a gradual return to normal, according to Tipton, and he will likely need to be monitored for several months, New York Post reports.

After being saved, he was spotted grinning and eating small meals while sporting a blood pressure monitor around his arm.

The tuna boat is now returning to Mexico, where Shaddock will receive examinations and maybe additional medical treatment, Mint reported.